Tourist Attractions in Costa Rica

The website costaricaguides.com has put together a list of its top ten travel destinations in Costa Rica for travelers seeking to explore and discover the natural wonders of this ecologically striking country. In this entry we’ll tell you five of the most attractive destinations included in their list.

1. San José City & Surroundings San José is the capital and the largest city in Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, it is both a historical and modern city filled with Costa Rican traditions. Due to the fact that the city is situated in the center of the country, San José is the perfect place to use as a base camp and departure point to tour Costa Rica. Once you've explored San José, there are plenty of wonderful destinations, only minutes away, on the outskirts of the capital city.

2. Arenal Volcano The Arenal Volcano area is the perfect spot for nature and adrenaline lovers. As one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Arenal Volcano is a fascinating natural wonder and a must-see destination for many travelers to Costa Rica. The volcano’s surroundings are just as impressive and worth visiting, including hot springs, waterfalls, forests, lakes, caves and beautiful traditional towns, such as La Fortuna.

3. Monteverde Monteverde is a small misty town in Puntarenas and is considered a major tourist destination due to its numerous reserves with naturally impressive rain and cloud forests. It was voted as one of Costa Rica’s Seven Wonders, along with Isla del Coco, Tortuguero, Arenal Volcano, Cerro Chirripó, Río Celeste and Poás Volcano.

4. Manuel Antonio Beach Manuel Antonio is a natural paradise located just south of Quepos on the Pacific Coast. It is a charming combination of rain forest, coral reefs and beaches; it is considered by many to be the most beautiful spot in the country. The Manuel Antonio National Park is Costa Rica's smallest national park, even though it is one of the richest in terms of beauty and biodiversity, and one of the main attractions in the area.

5. Tamarindo Beach Once a sleepy town, Tamarindo is now Guanacaste's largest coastal center, frequented by foreigners from all over the world. It has all the amenities of a Costa Rican beach town – surf, sand, sun and a robust nightlife. Even though this amazing town has become a Mecca for surfers, Tamarindo is also a favorite for eco-travelers. It is surrounded by National Parks to its north and south, and mountains with abundant nature. What's your top five of tourist destinations in our country? Comment your choices!